Mop and frame therefor



Feb- 23, 1954 H. w. JELLIFFE MOP AND FRAME THEREFOR Filed July 3l, 1948 INVENTUR. Jia/#5 BY Patented F eb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE Mor AND FRAME THEREFOR Howard W. J elliie, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 31, 194s, serial No. 41,733

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mops of the general type in which a swab or mit is readily detachable from the mop frame for cleaning or replacement.

Many mops of this general type have been previously proposed but their construction and arrangement have been such that they lacked convenience and utility. The present invention eliminates the shortcomings of previous designs and provides a maximum of utility and convenience while retaining the utmost simplicity in construction.

`The novel device described hereinbelow constitutes a cleaning instrumentality of practically flat formation, the entire exterior surface of which on both faces is available for application to a sur face to be cleaned. The cleaning mit constitutes a simple envelope of fibrous material which fits over and completely covers its supporting frame of metal as well as the handle attachment so as to protect furniture and the like from any possibility of being scratched by any of the metal parts of the mop. The handle attachment is pivoted tothe frame and swingable with respect to it so that the mop is truly reversible; that is, either p face may be applied to a floor or other surface to be cleaned with the handle extending at any convenient angle.

While the forward portion of the mit snugly ts the frame the rearward portion is so sized and shaped with respect thereto that slack is provided to allow angling of the mop handle without hindrance.

In on"e form of the invention the frame is resiliently expansible and contractible so that it may be sprung into position within the mit in interlocking engagement therewith to prevent inadvertent removal but may be readily contracted when it is desired to remove the mit for cleaning or replacement. In another form, the frame is not contractible but snap fasteners are provided in the mit to engage abutments or shoulders formed on the frame to hold the mit and frame temporarily in assembled relation.

Other advantages and features of novelty will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in fthe accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of the frame;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the frame of Figure 1 with a mop mit mounted in place thereon, portions of the mit being broken away andthe tufts not shown for clarity of illustration;

` Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the mit 2 and frame of Figure 2, but showing the handle in angularly4 extending position;

Figure 4 is a sectional View in elevation taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2, also showing the handle in angularly extending position and with the tufts appearing on the mit;

Figure 5 is` a view similar to Figure 2 showing a different form of detent in the mit;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified frame enclosed by a mit provided with another type of detent in the mit, a portion of the mit being broken away and the tufts not shown for clarity of illustration; and

Figure l is a View similar to Figure 6 showing a further modification-of the frame.

The frame I0 illustrated in Figure l includes two lengths I2, I4 of slender, elongate, resilient material such as steel wire extending forwardly adjacent the longitudinal axis of the frame. At the forward or toe portion the lengths of wire are outwardly reversely curved, as at I6, i8 and thence continue as laterally spaced rearwardly extending side members 20, 22. The lengths I2,` I4 are joined to provide a hinge portion 24 having a laterally extending pivotal axis A-A and reversely bent at its ends to form bearing por-y tions 26 and 28.

The side members 20, 22 are joggled or inwardly offset to provide rearwardly facing shoulders or abutments 30,32 substantially on a line with pivotal axis A-A for a purpose later to be described. The side members continue a substantial distance rearwardly of the shoulders at 34 and 36 and are reversely bent inwardly, terminating in legs 38 and 40 to increase the floor bearing area.

It will thus be seen that the lengths of wire form a frame having the general outline of a mop head with a hinge portion on the longitudinal axis of the frame and generally centrally located, being about sixty percent of the length of the frame back of the forward edge. `It will :also be observed that the portion of the frame rearward of the shoulders 30, 32 is narrower than the por tion forward of the shoulders.

A handle attachment is formed by doubling another length of wire and winding it into a coil 42 which may be screwed or pushed onto a wooden handle 43, illustrated in Figure 4. The free ends 44 and 46 of the wire are extended forwardly from i the coil and provided with eyes 48 and 50 for pivotal engagement with the bearings 2G and 28. The handle attachment can be pivotally swung out of the plane of the frame ineither direction since the rear central portion of the frame is eompletely unobstructed.

'o complete the mop a mit 52 is provided as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. This mit comprises an envelope of brous material having the general planform illustrated and made up of upper and lower members 54 and 55 stitched together along their front and side marginal edges and open along the rear edge 'to permit insertion of the frame I0. Tufts or thrums 58 are provided over the entire exterior surface of the envelope, as indicated in Figure 4, to provide the necessary mass to pick up and retain dust or dirt in a well known manner. The tufts or thrums are omitted from the other figures for clarity of illustration.

The relative proportions of the mit and frame are so chosen that when the frame is in position the side members 2li, 22 are resiliently urged against the interior side edges of the mit. Several stitches Bt are taken thru both layers of the mit at each side to provide detents or abutments lying sub-adjacent the shoulders 3D and 32 of the frame. Inassembly, the frame is laterally compressed by grasping arms 34 and 35, and after insertion it is released to allow side members 2G and 22 to spring into place. Engagement of detente 60 with the shoulders will then prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the frame.

Since the frame is narrower rearward of the shoulders while the envelope extends substantiallyv straight back there will be slack in the portion back of the pivotal axis about which the handle swings. As seen in Figures 3 and 4 this slack provides freedom for the handle to swing out of the plane of the frame without restraint. Obviously, if the rearv portion oi the mit were relatively taut the movement of the handle would be greatly restricted.

y To remove the frame from the mit it is only necessary to reach in and grasp arms 34 and 3S and compress the frame laterally to a suilicient extent to allow members 20 and 22 to clear the detents 60.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 the stitching @il is replaced by a pair of eyelets or hollow rivets 52 passing thru and fastening the two layers of the mit together, thus providing the necessarydetent effect. lAll of the other features are identical to those of the rst embodiment.

1 The modication shown in Figure 6 includes a non-collapsible frame -i preferably made of wire and having a forward edge 6@ and rearwardly extending side members |58 and lll, joggled or inwardly offset to provide shoulders or abutments l2 and ld, from which the arms 'I6 and 7.8 extend back to the rear margin of the frame. The rear marginal edges lili, 82 are forwardly oifset at Sil, 85 and joined by a short centrally located cross member iii which constitutes aihinge portion having a laterally extending pivotal axis substantially coincident with the shoulders l2 and lli.

A sheet metal handle attachment is provided having a loop or eye 9B for engagement with the hinge portion 83 and a conical rear portion. 92 in which the end of handle Sil is inserted.

kThe mit in this modincation is generally similar to the one previously described, being stitched `along its forward and side edges and open at the rear. However, the detents 96 take the form of snap fasteners, the male members being carried by one layer 93 of the mit and the female members by the other layer im).

yWith the` snap fasteners disengaged the frame is. slipped into the mit with members 66,. 68, and l0 in snug engagement. The fasteners are then snapped together just behind shoulders I2 and 'I4 and the mop is assembled ready for use. As in the previous embodiments the cover is slack over the rear portion of the frame to permit swinging of the handle in either direction.

A smaller hand type mop for use on walls, furniture and woodwork is illustrated in Figure 7. The frame includes a forward edge |02 and side members |04 and |96. p Shoulders or abutments are formed by the inwardly and rearwardly converging arms IUS and Il, and extensions 2 and H4 converge forwardly to join hinge portion lili having a laterally extending pivotal axis substantially coinciding with the junction of members |64 and |08 at one side and members |05 and ||0 at the other side. The handle attachment comprises eye and conical socket 92, into which is inserted the handle 94.

y The `mit is similar in form and construction to the mit of Figure 6 but is comparatively shorter in longitudinal extent. teners IIS are attached in the same wayto'the two layers |28 and |22 of the mit and assembly and disassembly are accomplished in the same manner. A Y

It will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and highly practical mop in which either side is equally available for cleaning purpose, the forward portion of the frame fitting snugly in the mit and the portion to the rear of the pivotal axis fitting loosely in the mit so that sufficient slack is provided for movement of the handle to working position. The combination moreover insures that the mit will at all times coverV every part of the metal frame and avoids any possibility of marring furniture or wood-Y work.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made in the construction asvdisclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that all such changes and modi-k fications shall be embraced within the scope of the following claims. K

I claim: o n

l. A mop comprising: a substantially iiat frame having the general outline of a mop head; pivot means formed generally centrally of said frame and having a pivotal axis extending laterally substantially in the plane of said frame; a rearwardly extending handle attachment pivotally mounted on said pivot means; said frame` nar-7 rowing abruptly at points adjacent to said pivotal axis to provide rearwardly facing abutments; a mop mit comprising an envelope of brous material open along its rear edge and enclosing the entire frame and said handle attachment; andv inter-engaging means on said mit to contact the abutments on said frame to vretain them in assembled relation; vthat portion of lthe mit to the rear of said pivotal axis being wider than the vcorresponding portion of the frame; whereby movement of said handle attachment out of the plane of said frame will be accommodated by the slack in the material of said mit.

2. A mop comprising: a resiliently laterally expansible frame having the general outline of a mop head; pivot means located generally cen'- trally of said frame and having a pivotal `axis' extending laterally substantially in the plane of said frame; abutments on the side margins of said frame adjacent said axis; the rearward portion of the frame being laterally narrower than the width of said frame at and immedi` ately yforward of said abutments; a handle attachment pivotally mounted on said pivot means and having a rearward extent approximately equal to that of the frame; the central portion of said frame rearward of the pivot means being unobstructed to permit swinging of said handle attachment to either side of the plane of the frame; a mop mit comprising an envelope of brous material of approximately the same size and shape as said frame and open along its rearward edge; said frame being resiliently engaged Within said mit; and second abutment means formed in said mit and engageable with said rst abutment means to prevent inadvertent withdrawal; the rearward portion of said mit being Wider than the rearward portion of said frame to accommodate swinging of said handle attachment out of the plane of said frame.

3. A mop comprising; a substantially flat frame having the general outline of a mop head; pivot means formed generally centrally of said frame and having a pivotal axis extending laterally substantially in the plane of said frame; abutments on the side edges of said frame adjacent said axis; the portion of said frame to the rear of said abutments being substantially narrower than the portion forwardly thereof; a handle attachment pivotally mounted on said pivot means; the central portion of said frame rearward of the pivot means being unobstructed to permit swinging of said handle attachment to either side of the plane of the frame; a mop mit comprising an envelope of fibrous material open along its rear edge and enclosing the entire frame and said handle attachment; and second abutments carried by said mit and adapted to engage said first abutments to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of said frame; the portion of the mit rearward of said abutments being wider than the corresponding portion of the frame to provide slack to accommodate swinging of said handle attachment out of the plane of said frame.

HOWARD W. JELLIFFE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,114,163 Mansfield Oct. 20, 1914 1,489,919 Bronson Apr. 8, 1924 1,568,100 Sturgis Jan. 5, 1926 1,706,019 Barber Mar. 19, 1929 1,714,291 Anderson May 21, 1929 1,758,464 Purvis May 13, 1930 1,998,273 Halsey Apr. 16, 1935 2,075,345 Jelliffe et al. Mar. 30, 1937 2,095,917 Cave oct. 12, 1937 2,212,172 Veeck Aug. 20, 1940 2,246,360 Johnson June 1'1, 1941 2,269,809 Chandler Jan. 13, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11.301 Great Britain Aug. 5. 1915 

